I'm in the UK on my way home now, having been to York to look at the six A4s.
Only the Brits would arrange them so you can't photograph all six at once.

But in Roseville CA, the yard was being shunted by a pair of GP38s and a pair of GP39s, while the only genset (not an NRE) sat shut down.

M636C

As an addenda to the order for PN - these will be 4-axle and nominally rated at 1600hp with two 'gensets'.

Speaking to a friend of mine with experience railfanning in North America, as well as having a general interest in goings on over there when at home, he writes "UP and BNSF (just to name the big two) are using gensets in the hundreds. A lot of short line and switcher railroads are using them as their main power.

The concept has been proven in the states, that's undeniable."


He normally knows what he's talking about, having been responsible for numerous books and magazines in the past, so I'm inclined to wait and see with optimistic eyes.

Speaking to a friend of mine with experience railfanning in North America....


He normally knows what he's talking about, having been responsible for numerous books and magazines in the past, so I'm inclined to wait and see with optimistic eyes.

I've written four books and numerous articles and I've just been to the USA, and I'm still on my way back...

Most of the genset locomotives have been paid for by federal, state and local governments to reduce exhaust emissions, particularly in California. Louis Marre, author of all but the first Diesel Spotter's Guide, believes that genset locomotives are a temporary expedient.

With government subsidies, the railroads will buy these genset units but as I saw in California, they'll still use old EMDs as switchers.

Both GE and EMD are offering low emission conversions of existing locomotives using current locomotive engines, and EMD in particular have been successful in selling hundreds of these.

A number of F59 PH and F59 PHI locomotives operated by the California Government (Amtrak California, Metrolink) have been rebuilt with 710 ECO engines and can be recognised by higher roofs over the radiators. There has been little publicity about this but the locomotives with Amtrak California carry new builder's plates, decals explaining the funding and a big "eco" decal.

GE and EMD suggest that the long term repair costs of their options will be less than that of genset units.

Pacific Harbour Lines are re-engining the former EMD units fitted with MTU engines with new CAT engines with even better emissions. They wouldn't do that if it wasn't government money.....

M636C

Speaking to a friend of mine with experience railfanning in North America, as well as having a general interest in goings on over there when at home, he writes "UP and BNSF (just to name the big two) are using gensets in the hundreds. A lot of short line and switcher railroads are using them as their main power.

The concept has been proven in the states, that's undeniable."


He normally knows what he's talking about, having been responsible for numerous books and magazines in the past, so I'm inclined to wait and see with optimistic eyes.

I'd question using gensets in the hundreds, if you hang around California you seen a few but between UP and BNSF they have 15,000 locomotives between them and gensets in the dozens might be more accurate.

East to prove a concept, reality is unless subsidized they are expensive for reduced horse power.

Ss

I'd question using gensets in the hundreds, if you hang around California you seen a few but between UP and BNSF they have 15,000 locomotives between them and gensets in the dozens might be more accurate.

East to prove a concept, reality is unless subsidized they are expensive for reduced horse power.

Ss

A quick count on the Greenrailnews site http://www.greenrailnews.com/allbuilders.html

Not updated since 2011ish, but by that date my tally for multiple engine gensets is 423, if you add in hybrids (engine/battery) the tally well over 500, so yes there are hundreds of gensets in the States. Union Pacific are operating over 150, with BNSF's total approaching 100.

I think you'll find a lot aren't in regular use. Buy them under a grant scheme, lower your fleet average emissions and some good green news.

I think you'll find a lot aren't in regular use. Buy them under a grant scheme, lower your fleet average emissions and some good green news.

The concept is kicking off in other countries, Germany, and in South Africa RRL Grindrod have built 2 and have a further 5 on order

http://csr.bombardier.com/en/media-center/csr-news/42-bombardier-names-new-traxx-multi-engine-locomotive-as-its-top-innovation-of-2011

As an addenda to the order for PN - these will be 4-axle and nominally rated at 1600hp with two 'gensets'.

that would be quite high powered for a 4 axle loco wouldnt it? hate to know what the axle weight would be.

that would be quite high powered for a 4 axle loco wouldnt it? hate to know what the axle weight would be.

No, not really http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_GP50

You can be clever about the axle weight if you really want to. But being in Pt Kembla I dont think axle loads matter too much.

that would be quite high powered for a 4 axle loco wouldnt it? hate to know what the axle weight would be.

No, GE managed to get the highest 4 axle horsepower loco.   The B40-8 locos at 1,000hp per axle were popular on high speed intermodal service on the Santa Fe up until 1996.    These days, they run locals, popular in northern California.

There's plenty of gensets running around in southern California.  Just take a Metrolink train out to Fullerton which goes past 1 minor UP yard near the LA River where there are plenty of 3GS21B locos and go past BNSF's Hobart yard where they use 3GS21C's (built on SD40-2 frames).

But yes, gensets are not appearing where government grants are not on offer.    GP39-2's and GP60's a plenty up in Seattle!

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3559449

1203 at 10/07/2013 still in El Zoro livery

Link published on Yahoo Group LocoNotes

Traxx DE ME, Europe's answer with Cat power. Refer to page 29

http://content.yudu.com/A1zyal/IRJ-December/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffree.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F655647%2FIRJ-December-2012%3Frefid%3D182628

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3559449

1203 at 10/07/2013 still in El Zoro livery

Link published on Yahoo Group LocoNotes

Our loading gauge is really small compared to the US locos standing behind the 1203. Ours 9ft 6" wide, 14ft 6" high cf with US std of 10ft 6" x 16ft. And we still want to keep the Queen after what the Poms have done to us.

Traxx DE ME, Europe's answer with Cat power. Refer to page 29

http://content.yudu.com/A1zyal/IRJ-December/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffree.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F655647%2FIRJ-December-2012%3Frefid%3D182628

Probably even smaller cf with US locos and still persevering with antiquated draft gear in Europe. Buffers and hooks in the 21st Century. OH&S nightmare, even lifting the chain up would be enough to do your back in.

Our loading gauge is really small compared to the US locos standing behind the 1203. Ours 9ft 6" wide, 14ft 6" high cf with US std of 10ft 6" x 16ft. And we still want to keep the Queen after what the Poms have done to us.

They would look tiny next to the US loco's, seeing them next to a 1100 even makes them look small. They are slightly shorter than an number of our loco's actually, by about a rulers length nearly if I remember right.

To illustrate the size difference

ALL meter gauge in southern Brazil

The lead is a standard EMD G22U export unit, this unit is 2.89 meters wide and 3.834 meters high, so would probably fit in the Queensland loading gauge, and on SG bogies within the ARTC loading gauge

Towed locos are new GE Dash9-40BBW, which are now common on Brazil meter gauge, on delivery/commissioning to ALL at Curitiba


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPd9jqvQtiM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYVoY2KlCDg

We have a lot of catching up to do, Vale is said to be ordering 3'6" gauge Dash9-40BBW for coal haul in Mozambique and Malawi

Evening All,

Today, Genset locomotive 1202 did a trial on Cowan Bank with Sydney Rail Services. The train ran as 4174 ex Sandgate and went to Cowan as 1202, C509 and C506.

I got a photo of it at Cardiff.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_gray/9486121832/

After the trial, the loco's ran around the train in Cowan loop and returned to Broadmeadow where 1202 was detached and the 2 C's and test consist returned to Sandgate.

Regards
Tim

Now even the Indians are getting into the act.

http://im1.indiarailinfo.com/NEXT/706804/15282033/2.jpg

India’s West Central Railway has begun trials of a pair of WDM2G gensets, rebuilt from a WDM3D by DMW Patiala. They has three 800 hp Cummins QSK-19 engines. The kits for building these locomotives were supplied bt NREC, family resemblance to other NREC export Gensets (Chile and Argentina)

Now even the Indians are getting into the act.

http://im1.indiarailinfo.com/NEXT/706804/15282033/2.jpg

India’s West Central Railway has begun trials of a pair of WDM2G gensets, rebuilt from a WDM3D by DMW Patiala. They has three 800 hp Cummins QSK-19 engines. The kits for building these locomotives were supplied bt NREC, family resemblance to other NREC export Gensets (Chile and Argentina)

Yes, trials. Of note, I don't recall the Australian Gensets actually being used yet.

And I was watching a video of UP's Gensets in the West, they were paired with SD70MAC/ACe's

The industry must be making the right noises, for NREC to continue promoting the concept here

1203-1205 are close for shipping from Mount Vernon. 1204-1205 currently in the paintshop

Plus the order for 7 3GS24B (?) for Port Kembla

What weight is the rail within the Steelworks? Or are they 2GS16B?

I would think that you would be pushing excreta uphill to get the weight of a 3GS24B under 24 tonne/axle

Have heard today a genset unit may be coming south from NSW to Victoria this coming wednesday 11/12/2013 for the purposes of Crew Training.

Regards
Brian

The industry must be making the right noises, for NREC to continue promoting the concept here

1203-1205 are close for shipping from Mount Vernon. 1204-1205 currently in the paintshop

Plus the order for 7 3GS24B (?) for Port Kembla

What weight is the rail within the Steelworks? Or are they 2GS16B?

I would think that you would be pushing excreta uphill to get the weight of a 3GS24B under 24 tonne/axle

Weren't these units lurking ovenight/stored in Platform 1 at Rockdale last week.
I thought I caught glimpses of 1202 and 1204 on separate days last week.
Unusual place to keep them

Weren't these units lurking ovenight/stored in Platform 1 at Rockdale last week.
I thought I caught glimpses of 1202 and 1204 on separate days last week.
Unusual place to keep them

Should have been 1201 and 1202. They were stabled there as they were going o/night signal testing on the Illawarra and East Hills lines.

Should have been 1201 and 1202. They were stabled there as they were going o/night signal testing on the Illawarra and East Hills lines.

Thanks Raichase
I thought that Platform 1 at Rockdale was a little unusual, (and more exciting than a track machine for that location) so that explanation makes sense.
Forgive me for pressing the point, but I am sure that it was over a couple of nights during the week, and one of the numbers I caught a glimpse of was (I am sure) was 1204 on my first glimpse coming through Rockdale and when I looked a gain a day or so later, saw the number 1202. If 1204 was elsewhere then so be it...but I am just making sure I didn't make it up.

regards
Stopblock